Ortofon MC-2000 MC phono cartridge JGH returned to the Ortofon MC-2000 in August 1985

JGH returned to the Ortofon MC-2000 in August 1985 (Vol.8 No.4):

Other than price, hum susceptibility appears to be the only real liability of this otherwise excellent $1000 MC cartridge. Its output is so extraordinarily lo1 that even the proximity of an AC cord to either of the tonearm cables can cause severe hum,

When used with an early-model Pink Triangle turntable, whose drive motor power transformer is in the phono unit itself, the cartridge picked up hum directly even when on its rest post. This should not be a problem with the later PTsthe transformer is now physically isolated from the turntablebut similar hum problems may be encountered with the MC-2000 on any turntable whose drive motor is not well shielded.

The MC-2000 works superbly even with early mono LPs and is the only MC cartridge I have encountered in over two years that has prompted me to pull out some of my oldest recordings and enjoy them all over again! This is one honey of a cartridge, but there are few step-ups with adequate gain and/or low enough noise to use with it. Unfortunately the best step-up I've found is Ortofon's own T-2000 transformer which costs another $1000. This combination makes LPs sound more like their CD counterparts than any other phono unit I've found (footnote 1), but for the $2000 combined price tag you could buy three good CD players. Hmmm.J. Gordon Holt

Footnote 1: I'm again afraid that analog-lovers, digital-haters will be put off by this last comment. Serves them right, maybe? I don't think so. The Ortofon does make analog sound very much like CD, particularly in tonal balance. Another way to look at it is that, if you balance your system around the sound of the Ortofon, you will not be rudely shocked by CD. Even on JGH's system I still find the sound of analog particularly through the Ortofon, to be superior to GD, but it's a small margin.Larry Archibald